Table top or the like



Sept. 6, 1932. E. H. GIBIAN 1,875,364

TABLE TOP OR THE LIKE Filed April 25, 1931 Patented Sept. 6, 1932 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE g r g C 1310 E. GIBIAN, OI CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOB TO THE VITBOLITE comm, A.

. GORPOBATION OF WEST VIRGINIA TABLE nor on man 1mm Appllcation filed April 25,

Many table tops and the like are made of panels of aque structural glass. If the edge of sue a anel be struck by a hard object, there is aliger of chippin or fracturing the panel. or examp e, w ere there are a number of tables having tolps of this kind in a restaurant or other pu lic place, the edges of the table tops often strike against each other when the tables are moved out of the we for Sweeping or scrubbing.

The ObJCt of the present invention is to rovide simple and novel means for effectivey protecting the edges of table tops or the like against injury through blows against the same, without marring their appearance.

Table tops or the like of opaque structural glass are stronger and more serviceable when provided with a reenforcing backing. Not only are such reenforced panels more serviceable, but less of the vitreous material is required and, therefore, the cost thereof will be less than that of thicker, vitreous panels.

In carrying out my invention, I extend a metal protective and cushioning band along the edge or edges of the table top or the like. When the structure is composed of a composite panel, the band may extend down far enough effectually to conceal the edges pf the backing. Therefore, viewed in one of its aspects, my invention may be said to have I for its object to produce a simple and novel composite table top or the like comprising a fragile panel backed by a reenforcing panel, the same being provided with simple means for protecting the edge or edges of the fragile panel and at the same time concealing the edge or edges of the reenforcing panel.

The various features of novelty whereby my invention is characterized will hereinafter be pointed out with particularity iii the claims; but, for a full understanding of my invention and of its objects and advantages, reference may be had to the foli 46 lowing detailed description taken in connec so that the presence ofthelflange or ,1931. Serial Io. Beam.

tion with the accompanying drawing, wherem: I

Figure 1 is an edge view pf a table top embodying the present invention; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of one corner of the table top a fragment of the upper panel being bro en away; and Fig. 3 is a section on line 3? of Fig. 2. r

Smce I have illustrated my invention as ap lied to a table top, I shall confine the detai ed description to this particular use of my invention, although itwill, of course, be understood that the invention is applicable wherever a similar element or panel has an exposed edge that may to advantage be protected, or which makes it necessary to conceal an edge of the reenforcing panel or backing. 7

Referring to the drawing, 1 represents a panelor slab of opaque structural lass or any other frangible material. Un erlying the member 1 is a second panel 2 of some suitable strong, tou h material that may" be fiber board or lum er, of any kind. The two panels are united by a thick layer 3 of cement, preferably of a type that'will re-' main elastic. The composite panel may be secured to a support 4 by means of screws, of which one is shown at 5, passing through the support and into internally screwthreaded sleeves 6 in the reenforcin panel. Each sleeve has at its inner end a tinge orv thin head 7 engaging with the inner face of the reenforcing panel around the hole within which the sleeve lies; the thickness of the flange or head being preferably less than ,the distance between'the two panels, head in the joint will not in any way stress the up er panel. 4

round the edge of the composite panel I place a metal protective strip or band which is secured to the composite panel belowthe lane of the bottom of the upper.

panel, w ereby stresses imposed upon the I enforcing panel.

In the arrangement shown, the protective band consists of a metal strip folded alon longitudinal lines to produce a T-shape cross section; the stem 8 of the T constituting a flange that extends into the joint between the two panels. The arms of the T are corrugated or otherwise deformed along longitudinal lines so that the upper arm, or the upper section of the band proper, con- 2 tacts with the edge of the upper panel only at the upper edge of the band; the remainder of the arm standing clear. In the arrangement shown, the upper arm of the T is in the form of a trough 9, the upper long edge of which en ages with the edge of the table top, while t e other long edge merges into the stem 8. The lower arm of the T' may take any desired shape. In the arrangcment shown, the lower arm 10 is W- shaped in cross section, the lowermost flange or wing thereof extending down below the bottom of the under panel, whereas this section or arm of the band engageswith'the edge of the under panel only along a single line or narrow area.

Theband proper, or those portions that form the arms of the T, may be covered with a decorative strip 11,thereby concealing the baser metal and the line that separates the arms 9 and 10 from each other. e The protective band need not extend to the top of the edge of the upper panel, but may terminate at a considerable distance below' the planeof the upper face of the table. It will be seen that, if a blow is struck against the protective band, the troughs will tend to flatten out, the upper ed e of the band sliding upwardly along the e ge of the table top. Therefore, the full force of the blow will not be transmitted directlyto the frangible material, the protection of which is the first function of the band.

While I have illustrated and described with particularity only a single preferred form of my invention, I do not desire to be limited to the exact structural details thus illustrated and described; but intend to in cover all forms and arrangements which come within the definitions of my invention constituting the appended claims.

'I claim: 7

1. A table top or the like comprising a panel of frangible material and an underlying reenforcing panel cemented thereto, a

63 protective band extending along and overto, an element in the joint between the -"panels lying the edge of said panels and complete- I 1y concealing the edge of the reenforcing v panel, and holding means'for the band extendilng therefrom into the joint between the ane s. 1

2. A table top or the likecomprising a panel of frangible material and an'underlying reenforcing panel cemented thereto, a protective'band extending along the edge of said panels at some distance below the upper face of the upper panel, and holding means-for the band extending therefrom into the joint between the panels. 1 V

3. A table top or the like comprising a panelpf frangible material and an underlying reenforcing panel cemented thereto, a metal band extending along the edges of the panels, said band being T-shaped in cross section, and the stem of the T being short and extending into and being 'held by the cement between the panels.

4. A table top or the like comprising a panel of frangible material and an underlying reenforcing. panel of tough material cemented thereto, a longitudinally-corrugated rotective band extending along the edge 0 said panels and having a-flange extending into the joint between the panels, that section of the band above the flange extending away from and then toward the edge of the upper panel to bring the upper marginal portion of the band close to and holding the remainder of said section away from the other panel. v

5. A table top or the like comprising a panel of frangible material and an underlying panel of tough material cemented thereto, an element in the joint between/the panels adjacent the edge thereof, and a cushioning band connected to, said element and extending along the edge of said panels.

6. A table top or the like comprising .a. panel of frangible material and an underly ing panel of tough material cemented. thereiois adjacent the edge thereof, and a longitudinally corrugated metal cushioning band con nected to said element and extending along the edge of said panels. 7. A table top or the like comprising a frangible panel and a reenforcing backing under and permanently united to thesame, a cushioning band extending along the edge of said panel and at its backing, and completely concealing the backing and securing means for said band extending into said back- 8. A table top or the like comprising a; frangible panel and an underlying reenforcing panel of tough material cemented thereto, an internally screw-threaded sleeve extending through said reenforcing panel and having a head in the joint between the panels, a support, a screw extending through said support into the sleeve, a cushioning band ex- 133 tending along the edge of the panels, and holding means for the band extending therefrom into the joint between the panels. 9. A compound slab composed of a panel of frangible material overlymg and cemented to a tough backing panel, a protective band extending along t e edge of the slab so as to overlie the edges of both panels, and a thin, narrow" rib extending from the inner side of the band into and held in place by the cement between the anels.

In testimony whereo I sign this specification.

ERIC H. GIBIAN. 

